Transfer Speculation

Fiorentina’s Italian international Alessandro Gamberini has drawn interest from AC Milan, who are reportedly set to bid for him.

According to reports in Corriere dello Sport, Milan are ready to make a bid for the center back, especially after their defensive problems last season.

Milan's aging duo of Alessandro Nesta and Kakha Kaladze were plagued by fitness problems last season, with Nesta not making even a single appearance after undergoing back surgery.

There are still doubts over their availability for the start of the new campaign, and Milan will be looking to strengthen their back four.

Gamberini has a €15 million rescission clause in his contract with Fiorentina, so there is room to negotiate a transfer, especially considering that the clubs have a strong relationship.

Gamberini has also been linked with German champions Wolfsburg, who are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of next year's title defense and Champions League.

Gamberini could join Italians Cristian Zaccardo and Andrea Barzagli at the club, with the latter being instrumental in Wolfsburg's successful bid to win their first league title last term.

Czech veteran Pavel Nedved’s agent has revealed that the Juventus midfielder is considering a switch to the MLS.

Mino Raiola, who represents Nedved, has suggested that his client will not retire and spoke of Nedved's future on Italian program Gr Parlamento.

"Nedved is on vacation and will return soon, but I think he will decide to continue playing," Raiola claimed.

While the Italian press is convinced the Czech will return to former club Lazio, who have expressed an interest, Raiola did not confirm this.

" Lazio? We must see what Pavel decides."

" There is some interest from the United States - a country that fascinates him."

Nedved has also been linked with Italian champions Inter, but Raiola was cryptic about the chances of a move.

"I do not rule it out. He can go wherever he wants and he wants a team that needs him, where he can make an important contribution."

The 36-year-old Czech winger left Juventus at the end of the last campaign and intimated that he would be hanging up his boots.

However, having been presented with several intriguing offers, Nedved is now said to be rethinking his decision.

Raiola, who also represents Inter's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, implied the Swede would remain at Inter.

"There is nothing at the moment. If something happens for Zlatan, Inter will decide. He is happy here." Raiola claimed.

Werder Bremen director of sport Klaus Allofs has confirmed contact has been made with Bayern Munich over Tim Borowski.

Borowski, who is also reportedly a target of Aston Villa, has been told he is surplus to requirements at Bayern just a year after joining on a free transfer from Bremen.

And Allofs says the 29-year-old is an option they are seriously looking at after confirming he had "discussed things" with the former Germany international.

"If the financial side of things is right, and we are convinced that signing him back would make sense for our squad, then we will deal with it," added Allofs in the Kreiszeitung Syke newspaper.

"It is no secret that we are still looking for one or two additions and Tim could be a solution."

Borowski is due to return to Munich on Wednesday where he has already been told that he does not figure in the plans of new coach Louis van Gaal.

Of Bremen's interest, the defender said: "It's very interesting. We'll have to see how things develop."

Blackburn have signed experienced Denmark defender Lars Jacobsen on a two-year deal.

Jacobsen, 29, spent last season at Everton but made only four starts for the FA Cup finalists.

He becomes Blackburn's third signing of the summer following the arrivals of midfielder Elrio van Heerden and left back Gael Givet.

Jacobsen will fill the gap let by the departures of right backs Andre Ooijer and on-loan Danny Simpson.

Aston Villa are weighing up a move for Middlesbrough's Turkish international Tuncay Sanli.

The attacking midfielder has attracted much interest from the Premier League in the wake of Middlesbrough's relegation to the Championship having been the stand-out performer in a struggling team.

And according to Sky Sports it is Villa who are at the head of the queue to sign the Turkish star.

Tuncay has been linked previously with both Liverpool and Everton but with O'Neill a confirmed fan of the stylish playmaker and with money to spend following Gareth Barry's departure to Manchester City it seems a move to Villa Park is the more likely option.

Regardless of where the former Fenerbahce star goes, he will no doubt be looking to spend next season in the Premier League to ensure he retains the captain's armband for his country.

Sir Alex Ferguson faces more obstacles in his quest to sign Douglas Costa, with German giants Bayern Munich now entering the race.

Earlier in the week, United had asked Brazilian club Gremio to allow the 18-year-old Costa to undergo a trial at Old Trafford, but the request was turned down flat with Gremio reportedly unwilling to sell Costa unless a club coughs up his 24 million euro buy-out clause.

With Sir Alex Ferguson unlikely to offer such a large amount of money for a teenager, they now face more troubles with claims that Bayern have now entered the picture.

According to English webste Sport.co.uk the German club's interest was confirmed by Costa's agent, Cesar Bottega, who said, "There was an approach from a big German club.

"They saw him at the South American Youth Championship and liked the player. There have been talks and we will see what happens in the next week."

United continue to be linked with Bayern Munich's own Franck Ribery despite Bayern's repeated insistence that the French international is not for sale.

Inter Milan have finally signed Genoa striker Diego Milito, who will join the Italian champions on a four year contract.

The deal had been agreed for some time, but wasn't formalised until Monday evening at which time the Nerazzurri made an official announcement on their website.

The 30-year-old Milito was one of the stars of the Rossoblu's successful season as they finished in fifth place, scoring 24 times in Serie A. He finished one goal behind top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who he will be teaming up with in 2009-10.

Genoa's Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta is also close to confirming his transfer to Inter. The entire deal for the South American duo is reportedly worth more than 30 million euro's.

Fiorentina have targeted Milan striker Marco Borriello as they try to boost their attacking options ahead of the new season.

The Viola will enter the qualifying round for the Champions League in August and currently only have three strikers on their books having sold Giampaolo Pazzini and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo midway through last season.

According to reports in the Italian press coach Cesare Prandelli would like at least one more striker at his disposal to ensure the squad have depth up front and Borriello would seem to fit the bill.

Milan have been linked with Edin Dzeko and Emmanuel Adebayor and if another striker does come to the San Siro they could be willing to concede Boriello, who missed a majority of last season through injury.

However, Fiorentina are also considering other potential goal-scorers, like Inter duo Julio Cruz and David Suazo, as well as Torino forward Rolando Bianchi.

Manchester United are inching closer to making Antonio Valencia their first signing of the summer.

The Wigan winger has cut his summer break short to try and complete his move to Old Trafford.

And the £16million deal is expected to be confirmed this week as Sir Alex Ferguson begins the task of spending the world record £80million fee United have just banked for the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

They hope Valencia, who scored just three Premier League goals last term, might be able to replicate the pace and dribbling ability of Ronaldo. However, getting anywhere near his goals output might be far more difficult, a factor emphasised at the JJB Stadium last month when the Ecuador flyer missed a sitter in the defeat to United.

Certainly most United fans - and probably Ferguson himself - would be disappointed if there were not further signings by September 1 given the problems he is juggling with.

As well as Ronaldo, the loss of Carlos Tevez, seemingly bound for rivals Manchester City, leaves another gap.

Karim Benzema has been touted as a potential replacement but has already given vibes he may prefer to go elsewhere, and even then in another year's time.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is another option but the Dutchman is more of a Ruud van Nistelrooy-type figure and Ferguson has been building his teams in a different way of late.

At the back of Ferguson's mind will also be the knowledge Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Edwin van der Sar are all preparing for what is expected to be their final season of top-flight action, with Gary Neville not far behind.

Twelve months ago, United appeared to have the replacements in place but doubts have emerged over Nani, Anderson and Ben Foster, leaving Ferguson with more big decisions to make.

There are further question marks over midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who is hoping to return from two years wrecked by a tendinitis problem, and record signing Dimitar Berbatov, who was inconsistent in his debut season.

Gonzalez has been linked with a move to Marseille, meaning Les Gones' pursuit of Lopez could be under threat with Porto seemingly reluctant to lose both of their Argentina stars.

However, Faccioli claims Gonzalez's situation will not be a factor.

"I don't see how the transfer of Lucho Gonzalez will change something for OL," Faccioli told L'Equipe.

"I am always in contact with Porto. That means the club is always the seller."

The former Brazil, Portugal and Chelsea boss recently signed an 18-month contract to take charge of the big-spending Uzbek side and faces a tough baptism against the Koreans as the 60-year-old looks to take Bunyodkor one better than last season's semi-final appearance.

Pohang produced a breathtaking display of football in their 6-0 drubbing of Newcastle Jets in the last 16 but will not relish facing a side containing the likes of Rivaldo and Chilean marksman Jose Luis Villanueva that defeated Piroozi at the intimidating Azardi Stadium in Tehran.

Kawasaki Frontale again face Japanese opposition in the form of Nagoya Grampus. Having knocked out defending champions Gamba Osaka in the last round, they come up against fellow J.League side Nagoya who ousted Suwon Bluewings.

FC Seoul, who stunned J.League leaders Kashima Antlers in the last 16, were rewarded with a tie against Qatar minnows Umm Salal while the second side from Uzbekistan in the last eight, Pakhtakor, were drawn against Saudi Arabian giants Al Ittihad.

"We are pleased to be playing Umm Salal," FC Seoul team official Kim Tae-joo told the AFC's official website.

"We beat Kashima Antlers to get to the quarter-finals so we are very confident that we have the ability to go on to win the tournament."

Meanwhile in the AFC Cup, Chonburi were drawn against Binh Duong in what looks to be the most mouthwatering of the four quarter-final ties.

Thai side Chonburi outclassed Indonesians PSMS Medan 4-0 in the last 16 while Binh Duong thrashed Malaysian outfit Kedah 8-2 and with both teams finding the back of the net with regularity during the group stages, a feast of attacking football could be in the offing.

"We know their style of play and I think both the teams are of the same level. Our target is to reach the AFC Cup final and win it," said Binh Duong's Technical Director Nguyen Van Hiep.

Elsewhere, Syrian heavyweights Al Karama were handed a tough draw when they take on Al Arabi from Kuwait while Hong Kong's South China, who cruised past Home United in the last 16, will face a much stiffer test in the shape of Uzbek side Neftchi.

Kuwait SC face Arbil in the other last eight clash with the two legs to be played on September 15 and 30.

Draw for Asian Champions League quarter-finals (ties to be played 23, 24 and 30 September)

Umm Salal (Qatar) v FC Seoul (South Korea); Kawasaki Frontale (Japan) v Nagoya Grampus (Japan); Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan) v Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia); Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan) v Pohang Steelers (South Korea)

Draw for AFC Cup quarter-finals (ties to be played September 15 and 30)

Al Karamah (Syria) vs Al Arabi (Kuwait); Kuwait SC (Kuwait) vs Arbil (Iraq); Neftchi (Uzbekistan) vs South China (Hong Kong); Chonburi FC (Thailand) vs Becamex Binh Duong (Vietnam)

Guiza followed his Euro 2008-winning coach Luis Aragones to Fener last summer after a memorable first season at Real Mallorca, where he scored 27 goals during the 2007/08 campaign to finish as the leading scorer in the Primera Division.

After only one season in Turkey though, the 28-year-old admits he is already thinking about going back to his homeland and he is looking at Valencia - who could be on the look out for a striker if David Villa leaves - as a possible destination.

"I would like to return to play in Spain," Guiza said in Spanish newspaper AS.

"I'll see if my mate Marchena can give me a little hand to play at Valencia."

Guiza was speaking after coming off the bench and scoring two late goals to help Spain finish their Confederations Cup campaign with a 3-2 win over South Africa.

That was only Guiza's second appearance in the tournament, but he made sure he made the most of the opportunity to impress both coach Vicente del Bosque and any watching La Liga scouts.

"I work hard to have minutes and I've had the fortune to score two goals," he added. "It's not easy to get into the national team, and I must thank the coach."

The French winger has been the subject of intense transfer speculations in the last few months with Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid all keen to add him to their roster.

New Chelsea boss, Carlo Ancelotti wants Ribery to be part of his London revolution but it is still uncertain if Ribery will be sold.

His club, Bayern Munich, has repeatedly knocked back all the transfer talk by claiming that their star player is set to stay in the Bundesliga.

However, the Sunday Express reported that the Blues are throwing in a mouth-watering bid which the German giants would find hard to refuse.

Whether the player himself would fancy a move to the Premier League is another matter as he has always hinted that Spain would be his preferred destination.

A question mark still hangs over the talented playmaker's head as to where he will be plying his trade next season. England, Italy, Spain or Germany?

Make a guess?

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has admitted that he is interested in bringing Rangers ace Barry Ferguson to the club.

The Blues boss has enquired about the availability of the midfielder, who he worked with at Ibrox and with Scotland, as he plots reinforcements for his squad ahead of next season in the Premier League.

Ferguson is expected to leave Glasgow this summer after being fined and stripped of the club captaincy in April following a breach of discipline while representing Scotland.

Rangers are also understood to be keen to raise funds and, with the 31-year-old former Blackburn player in the final 12 months of his contract, could be prepared to listen to an offer from Birmingham.

"Barry is definitely someone that we have given consideration to, amongst others," McLeish told Sky Sports News.

"I don't want to commit myself right away to the midfield situation because there is still a wee bit to go, a little bit of work to be done."

He added: "We hope to bring in a midfielder of real quality, who can go anywhere in the league and not be fazed by taking the ball."

McLeish, who recently denied allegations of a disagreement with the St Andrews board over the signing of Giovanny Espinoza, initially admitted approaching Rangers regarding Ferguson earlier in June.

But the Scot has now hinted that the SPL champions have indicated they are prepared to sell one of their most experienced players, despite the fact that they will participate in the Champions League this season.

McLeish, though, is adamant Ferguson is not the only player he is monitoring as he bids to bolster his midfield options.

"You never know," said McLeish when answering additional questions regarding Ferguson's possible arrival.

"Maybe I could target a couple, Ferguson could be one.

"We have others in the pipeline that we have been working hard on. Ferguson has come late in the day in terms of knowing that he is now available.

"But we are not making our mind up right now."

Sergio Aguero will not be leaving Atletico Madrid anytime soon according to the player's representative, Jose Segui.

Segui has moved to play down speculation surrounding the future of the his client, saying that Aguero has no intention of leaving the Vincente Calderon.

"He wants to remain with Atletico Madrid," claimed Segui.

"We have not received any offers. I do not know if Atletico have spoken with anyone else."

The 21-year-old striker has been heavily linked with a move to England with either Chelsea or Manchester United, or even a possible move to Serie A with Inter Milan.

Aguero is currently on vacation with his family, his first since the birth of his son, Benjamin, early this year.

Transfer market foes Real Madrid and Manchester United are ready to do battle again over the signature of Karim Benzema.

Both clubs have expressed interest in signing the highly rated Frenchman, who currently plies his trade for Lyon.

Zinedine Zidane is one of the main proponents of Madrid's advances, but with the club having already spent huge sums of money on the transfers of Kaka and Ronaldo, and potentially also for Franck Ribery, they will not be willing to pay over the odds.

Sir Alex Ferguson has already been in contact with representatives of Lyon and asked the club to set a realistic price for the striker.

Accoring to reports the club has slapped a £25.5million (€30million) price tag on the 21-year-old.

Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas is apparently keen to accept an offer in this region, with Lyon already preparing a move for Porto's Lisandro Lopez.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has revealed he has talked to Arsenal about the possibility of signing Emmanuel Adebayor.

The Rossoneri's first choice remains Wolfsburg star Edin Dzeko but with the Bundesliga club remaining firm that he is not for sale, Milan are starting to look at alternatives.

Galliani indicated on Thursday that they might be interested in Adebayor and it now appears that the Serie A side have stepped up their interest in the Togo international.

"We don't have any agreement with Dzeko," said Galliani. "He is a Wolfsburg player.

"Dzeko has expressed his liking for a move here but at this moment there are no negotiations yet.

"We wrote to Wolfsburg and they responded that he is not for sale. If Wolfsburg change their minds we have agreed they will call Milan. If they do I am ready to immediately leave and go there.

"There's no fee yet, at the moment Dzeko is not for sale. If he becomes for sale then we will start talking sums.

"Adebayor and (Sevilla striker) Luis Fabiano are the alternatives. For Adebayor there has been a telephone call, during which (Arsenal manager Arsene) Wenger was friendly."

Speculation has been rife that midfield duo Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso would be joining former coach Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea.

However, Galliani reiterated that no offers have been made for Pirlo, while Gattuso has offered to take a pay cut to extend his stay at the San Siro.

Galliani said: "There have been no offers for Pirlo and Thursday night with Ancelotti was just a dinner between old friends, seeing as Carletto was in Milan for his daughter's graduation.

"Wednesday night I was at dinner with Gattuso who told us that he was ready to reduce his salary.

"He still has two years left on his contract, so it will move to three years, reducing the salary.

"Gattuso is an example, a true man, extraordinary."

Meanwhile, Davide di Gennaro returns from Genoa after Milan won a blind auction to buy out the other club's half of the players' rights.

The Rossoneri also confirmed that they have beaten off competition from several other Serie A clubs to the signature of 18-year-old Treviso striker Gianmarco Zigoni.

Villarreal are looking to sign Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, according to reports in the English press.

The Sunday Mirror claimed that Villarreal are looking to sign the 27-year-old Russian international but may not be willing to accept the price tag of around €16 million that Spurs have put on Pavlyuchenko.

While Tottenham are said to be willing to let go of the Russian, they will demand a figure that matches the price they paid Spartak Moscow for his services, which Villarreal may not agree to.

While Villarreal are looking to strengthen their options up front as rumours abound that Italian starlet Giuseppe Rossi is set to leave, the €16 million price is expected to be well beyond their means.

Whether negotiations over the price will continue or Villarreal will hunt for someone else remains to be seen, but over in North London there is expected to be a summer of change under Harry Redknapp.

Though Pavlyuchenko only joined Spurs last summer, his showing of just five goals in 28 appearances means Harry Redknapp will have no qualms offloading him.

The Russian's team mates Darren Bent, Didier Zokora, Tom Huddlestone, David Bentley, Giovanni Dos Santos, Jamie O'Hara and Jermaine Jenas are all expected to leave White Hart Lane as Tottenham look to rebuild their squad.

Portuguese legend Eusebio paid Cristiano Ronaldo the ultimate tribute any player can receive.

Widely regarded as the greatest ever player from Portugal, Eusebio expressed his delight at compatriot, Ronaldo's world record move to Real Madrid.

According to Goal.com Spain, the Portuguese great said: "I am very pleased, because Real Madrid is a team that I love a lot in Spain. They are the most important team in the country, just as Benfica are in Portugal and Manchester United in England.

"I am pleased that Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a contract here, and I am sure that we will succeed in Spanish football."

Eusebio went one step further and proclaimed the former Manchester United winger to be the almighty one.

"I cannot define him [Ronaldo]. He is now the god of another world. I think this year's Real Madrid will not have problems because at the moment he is the best player in the world.", exclaimed Eusebio.

Ronaldo will most likely make his debut in a Madrid shirt at the end of July in the Peace Cup tournament.

Arsenal are on the verge of hijacking Manchester United's attempts to land Lyon striker Karim Benzema.

United, with money to burn following their sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, were thought to be in pole position to sign the France international, something that now looks to be challenged by the Gunners and Real.

According to the News of the World newspaper, the Emirates Stadium hierachy are busy preparing a substantial £30million bid for the 21-yearold.

The bulk of the transfer fee would come from the sale of Emmanuel Adebayor to Serie A giants, a move that looks increasingly likely to happen sooner rather than later.

However, Arsenal boss, a known admirer of the Lyon ace, will have to fend off an approach from Primera Liga moneybags Real after the Spanish outfit also expressed an interest in landing Benzema.

The latest revelations come in the wake of Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas' statement that despite Benzema's apparent desire to stay at Stade Gerland, a sizeable offer could lead to him leaving.

"Karim has said that he wants to stay another year at Lyon," Aulas told L'Equipe.

"But I think that Kaka or Ronaldo maybe imagined remaining with their respective clubs.

"There is a tsunami called Real Madrid which provokes reactions at Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.

"So it is very complicated to say that he is non-transferable. It's obvious we want to keep him.

"There is more chance he'll be at Lyon next season than that he won't be.

"I won't hide from you the fact that he has been approached. For the moment, I managed to convince them not to go further."

Benzema has come through the ranks at Lyon and burst onto the scene in the 2007-08 season with 31 goals in 51 games, a streak that saw him named Ligue 1 player of the year as well as top the league's scoring charts.

This campaign was less impressive for both club and player, as Lyon ended the season without the Ligue 1 title for the first time in eight years, but the France forward nevertheless scored 23 goals in all competitions - an average of a goal every other game.